Issue 01 & 02

EFFECT OF NANO-CALCITE FOLIAR FERTILIZER ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF Oryza sativa VARIETY AT 362

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

EFFECT OF NANO-CALCITE FOLIAR FERTILIZER ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF Oryza sativa VARIETY AT 362 Kumara, K.H.C.H.; Hafeel, R.F.; Wathugala, D.L.; Kumarasinghe, H.K.M.S. A pot experiment in an open area was conducted in 2015 yala season at the Regional Rice Research Institute, Am balanthota, Sri Lanka to determine the effect of foliar application of nano calcite on yield, yield component and quality of rice (Oryza sataiva) variety, At 362. Treatments tested were 4 levels of nano calcite (40, 80, 120 and 160 ppm) and plant growth were estimated 30, 60 and 90 days after transplanting and grain yield at harvesting. The experiment followed the Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replications. It was found that the application of nano calcite foliar fertilizer has significantly contributed to enhance growth, yield, seed quality and insect re sistance in At 362. Plants treated with 120 ppm nano calcite had highest yield with highest performances of growth and seed quality attributes. The dates required for the 50% flowering was reduced by 6 days and yield was increased by 25% with the application of 120 ppm nano calcite compared to the untreated plants. The plants treated with 160 ppm foliar nano calcite recorded significantly low gall midge damage, leaf mites, stem borer damage and paddy bugs as compared to untreated control and treated with lower doses (40 and 80 ppm). While the data of this study showed that nano calcite has positive effects on rice growth, yield and induced resistance to insect pests, further research would be needed to validate the observations.

MICROPROPAGATION OF Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (JUJUBE) THROUGH SHOOT TIP AND NODAL SEGMENT CULTURE

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

MICROPROPAGATION OF Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (JUJUBE) THROUGH SHOOT TIP AND NODAL SEGMENT CULTURE Hansika, K.P.; Ranawake, A.L.; Perera, R.N.I. Jujube is known as Masan in Sri Lanka is one of the underutilized fruit crops. It is important due to its high nutri tious value and introduced as a potential crop for commercial cultivation. Micropropagation using plant tissue culture is an efficient method for vegetative propagation of commercially important crops for mass production to meet the demands of planting materials. Present study was carried out to develop a proper in-vitro protocol for local varieties of Jujube to produce planting materials. The most suitable fungicide for surface sterilization proce dure was selected by testing Captan (Captan 50%, 1.2 g/l), Topsin (Thiophanate methyl 70%, 2 g/l), and Daconil (Chlorothalonil, 1.8 ml/l). Selection of a suitable concentration of BAP (Benzyle Amino Purine) or TDZ (Thidiazuron) for shoot proliferation was assessed in four different concentrations of BAP (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 mg/l) and of TDZ (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mg/l) and IBA (Indole Butric Acid) for root induction in two concentrations of IBA (1, 2 mg/l). Dipping shoot tips in Captan solution for 20 minutes gave the highest significant non-contamination per centage (79.9%) and lowest fungal radius (0.15 cm) of contaminated cultures among three treatments. MS (Murrashige and Skoog) medium containing 1.5 mg/l BAP recorded significantly highest percentage of elongat ed bud (96.66%) and newly produced shoot length (1.08 cm) and lowest significant rate was recorded in TDZ 0.2 mg/l (3.33%). Callus was produced in all the concentrations of TDZ. None of the concentrations of BAP or TDZ produced multiple shoots. Elongated nodal segments in BAP (1, 1.5 mg/l) could be successfully sub-cultured for further multiplication. Rooting was not recorded in both shoot tips and in-vitro generated shoots during four weeks of culturing on IBA contained media.

EFFECT OF STORING TIME AND TEMPERATURE ON MILLING QUALITY OF PAR BOILED AND RAW RICE OF AN IMPROVED IVARIETY, AT 362 AND A TRADITIONAL VARIETY, KURULUTHUDA

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

EFFECT OF STORING TIME AND TEMPERATURE ON MILLING QUALITY OF PAR BOILED AND RAW RICE OF AN IMPROVED IVARIETY, AT 362 AND A TRADITIONAL VARIETY, KURULUTHUDA Awanthi, M.G.G.; Navaratne, S.B.; Jinendra, B.M.S.; Navaratne, C.M. Future rises in global surface temperature threaten for rice dependent nations. Previous research has failed to account for the detrimental impact of high temperatures on milling quality in paddy storing. Therefore, main ob jectives of this study were to assess the milling quality of paddy stored at different temperatures in line with global warming and to identify adaptation techniques. Experiment was conducted as a split-split plot design with 3 repli cates. Main, sub and sub-sub plot factors were variety (AT-362, Kuruluthuda), processing technique (raw, par boiled) and storage temperature (26, 30, 34, 38oC) respectively. Head Rice Yield (HRY), Broken Rice Yield (BRY) and Degree of Milling (DOM) were estimated initially and after 6 months. Result revealed that HRY of paddy decreased by the range of 2.1-3.5% with increase in storage temperature from 26°C to 38°C after 6 months. How ever, temperature was not significantly influenced on HRY and BRY of stored paddy (P>0.05). The DOM was significantly lower (2.07%) at 38oC than other temperatures. The HRY is significantly higher (P<0.05) in par boiled rice than raw rice in both varieties after 6 month at each temperature level. It can be concluded that mill ing quality of stored paddy is degrading at high temperatures yielding high amount of broken rice and low head rice, Furthermore, Kuruluthuda variety stored at comparatively high temperatures seems to be more tolerant to breakage during the milling compared with AT-362.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RAINFALL CHARACTERISTICS AND PROSO MILLET (Panicum miliaceum L.) CULTIVATION IN LOW COUNTRY DRY ZONE, SRI LANKA

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RAINFALL CHARACTERISTICS AND PROSO MILLET (Panicum miliaceum L.) CULTIVATION IN LOW COUNTRY DRY ZONE, SRI LANKA Wimalasiri, E.M.; Walker, S.; Nissanka, S.P.; Karunaratne, A.S. Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is a drought tolerant minor millet found in rainfed low input agricultural systems in Sri Lanka. This paper presents an analysis of characteristics of rainfall, of the onset, retreat and length of the ‘Yala’ growing season (March-September) and the relationship between rainfall and crop husbandry strat egies in a Proso millet growing area. Daily rainfall data (1983-2015) obtained from Udawalawa, Sewanagala, Pelwatta, Thanamalwila and Kuda Oya meteorological stations were analysed along with information gathered from a survey of farmers. Among these 5 stations significant (p < 0.05) differences were found in retreat date, the length of the season and rainfall amount during the season. It was observed that onset date can be used to predict the season length with high accuracy (r = -0.7335, significant at p < 0.05). The selection of crops and the timing of crop management practices in the Proso millet growing area coincided with the distribution of rainfall. However, the yields reported by farmers (mean 1.18 t ha-1 ) are far below the expected potential (4 t ha-1 ). Soil moisture con servation and water management strategies could be critical to reduce the risk of water-related damage in the susceptible flowering stage.